A steady increase in the Callaway County jail population has caused officials to address the situation in a County Commission meeting earlier this week.
The inmate population routinely exceeds 100, nearing the mark for total number of beds at 109. According to figures from jail administration, the average number of inmates has increased over the past four years: 66.34 in 2010; 78.39 in 2011; 86.52 in 2012; 87.17 in 2013 and 100.42 from January 2014 to Nov. 12.
The number of female inmates has contributed to the overcrowding as more females continue to commit crimes. The average number of females incarcerated from January 2014 to Nov. 12 was 15.40 - 3.27 more than in 2010. In 2011, an average of 13.18 women were in the county jail; 15.99 in 2012 and 14.05 in 2013.
"We're constantly in the teens and sometimes close to 20," Sheriff Dennis Crane said in the meeting.
While single-digit differences may seem insignificant, they are difference makers when it comes to housing female inmates. Built in 1989, the 25-year-old jail was designed for 10-12 women, who must be separated from the male inmates at all times.
As jail administration takes in more and more, Crane was not optimistic about a downward trend.
"I wish I could tell you it's going to get better, but I don't think it's going to get better," he said during a commission meeting earlier this week.
The County Commission called together Crane, Jail Administrator Robbie Harrison, Chief Deputy Darryl Maylee, Circuit Judge Carol England, Prosecuting Attorney Chris Wilson and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Casey Clevenger to give advice on how the situation could be handled.
In addition to the influx of female inmates, Wilson said increased efforts to arrest and prosecute domestic violence offenders have led to more inmates. The Sherriff's Office has an officer solely dedicated to domestic violence cases. Felony-level probationers, Wilson added, are being issued $5,000 cash only bonds they aren't able to post.
Harrison sends Wilson an inmate census daily, and Wilson said if the total reaches a "critical mass" - meaning little to no bed space is available - they assess if there are inmates that can be let out. Wilson said he only considers inmates charged of non-violent crimes like low-level property or drug crimes - all violent offenders are not options. The strategy is a rare one, though, as he's only needed to take this action about five or six times, he said, in his four years of office. When possible, inmates accused of breaking federal law are transferred to federal incarceration facilities to alleviate overcrowding.
Crane said recidivism plays into the issue too, which comes at a price for the county and public at large.
"We've had a female in there numerous times for forgery. And every time we let her back out, what does she do? She goes and forges more checks," he said. "The public cries "You guys arrest them and you turn them right back loose.' That's the double edge sword with the public. Understanding the cost versus getting back out. They're not violent crimes, but they're still crimes that are affecting people."
Cost per inmate per day is $49, and medical expenses can spike the cost. The county's overall expenses have also increased steadily since 2011 when the total was at $1,078,240. It was $1,157,453 in 2012; $1,157,453 in 2013; and $1,229,285 budgeted in 2014. State reimbursement was $163,415 in 2011; $90,063 in 2012; $310,893 in 2013 and $161,478 in 2014. Federal reimbursement was $230,562 in 2011; $267,746 in 2012; $180,760 in 2013 and $138,560 in 2014.
As the commission builds its 2015 budget, Jungermann said county officials will need to come to a conclusion if a jail addition is necessary. This, he estimated, would cost at least $2 million and would come out of the county's reserve fund.